Men's Water Polo | September 8, 2019

ANNAPOLIS, Md. –Men's water polo dropped its final two games of the Navy Invite, falling to Fordham and #2 UCLA on Sunday. Freshman Callin Chimilar led the way for the Explorers with three goals on the day, while sophomore Tyler Williams recorded a goal in each game.
 
Fordham 15, La Salle 6
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Rams opened up a 3-0 lead to begin the quarter. The Explorers would get one back as Chimilar struck for his second career goal.
• In the following frame, Fordham seemed to run away with things when it went on a 4-1 run, but La Salle showed its mettle to battle back to within two. Chimilar capped an impressive start to the game with two more goals for a first-half hattrick, while senior Keegan Reilly also fired one home.
• The Rams got off the mark quickly in the third, rattling off five straight scores. Junior Karl Miller struck for the Explorers to make it 12-6, but with only eight minutes remaining, Fordham had the edge over its conference rivals. The Rams would score three more in the final quarter to win it.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Chimilar made his mark in addition to his trifecta of goals. The Regina, Saskatchewan native also had a steal, an exclusion earned and a block.
• Sophomore Josh Delillo paced the team in steals with two, also earning an assist, an exclusion earned and a block.
• Four Explorers tied for the lead in kickouts drawn, with seniors Derek DeFusco and Luke Waechter, junior Daniel Domotor and freshman Derek Allen each earning two.
• Junior goalkeeper Cameron Schiable led the Explorers in saves with five, while also adding a steal.

 
UCLA 20, La Salle 2
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Bruins got out to a quick lead, controlling the first quarter with an 8-0 scoreline. 
• UCLA netted the first goal of the second frame before Domotor got La Salle on the board. Williams got the Blue & Gold's second of the match, but the second-ranked team in the nation held a decisive 12-2 lead at the half.
• The team from California showed its class to finish off the final two quarters, scoring eight unanswered.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Junior Cole Strohson tallied the only assist for the Explorers. The number four also recorded a steal and an exclusion earned.
• Senior Joey DeFusco led the way in steals with two, while Miller picked up the only block of the game.
• Freshman Adriano Zunino led the way for the Blue & Gold in net with four saves on 12 shots.

COACH'S TAKE

• Head coach Tom Hyham had this to say about his team's opening weekend: "We're just a better team now than we were this time last year. And that was proven this weekend. We had a good showing against Austin College; we showed some resiliency when were down by three goals at two separate points and we were able to rally back and take the game by three goals. Some of our sophomores stepped up real big, and our incoming freshmen stepped up big; they all played marvelously and put together their talents and showed well."

UP NEXT

• The Explorers go across Pennsylvania for the Mercyhurst Invite next weekend. They'll play Salem and Penn State Behrend on Saturday and Mercyhurst and Gannon on Sunday.